NEWS AND OPINION:
“In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the first National Christmas Tree. Later that night, African American community centers held an outdoor worship service on these grounds. And during that service, the Washington Monument was illuminated with a beautiful cross, a powerful reminder of the meaning of Christmas,” then-President Donald Trump said at the tree-lighting ceremony near the Washington Monument on Dec. 5, 2019.
“More than 2,000 years ago, a brilliant star shone in the East. Wise men traveled far, far afield. I mean, they were a long distance away. And they came and they stood with us under the star, where they found the Holy Family in Bethlehem,” Mr. Trump said.
“As the Bible tells us, when the Wise Men had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshipped him. Christians give thanks that the Son of God came into the world to save humanity. Jesus Christ inspires us to love one another with hearts full of generosity and grace,” the 45th president said.
“And at Christmas, we remember this eternal truth: Every person is a beloved child of God. As one grateful nation, we praise the joy of family, the blessings of freedom, and the miracle of Christmas,” Mr. Trump said in closing.
REAGAN’S 1987 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Ronald Reagan did not shy away from his faith while in office. Here’s his Christmas message on Dec. 23, 1987:
“What with the sights of brilliantly decorated trees, the sounds of familiar hymns and songs, and tastes of fresh-baked cookies and other treats, and above all the long-anticipated visit from St. Nick, Christmas for children is a time unlike any other,” the 40th president said in a radio address.
“That is true for grownups as well, of course; the joy and meaning of Christmas only deepen as we grow older. We still find pleasure in exchanging greetings and gifts, and we still delight in the warm and colorful images of the holiday. But we perceive ever more clearly, as did Scrooge, that the true beauty and wonder of the season lie in the Christmas spirit of giving of ourselves for others — the message of the Prince of Peace whose birth we celebrate.
“At Christmastime we accompany shepherds and Wise Men to the stable as of old, where we relearn the timeless and priceless lessons of love, humility and sacrifice, where we see the Christmas spirit as God’s love flowing through so many people all at once,” Reagan continued.
“This spirit of love, as simple as a spoken greeting and as profound as a changed heart, seems so full that it ceaselessly looks for ways to express its power. We respond to it best when we share it with family, friend or stranger — when we recognize that, under the sheltering evergreen branches of God’s love, all are family and no one is a stranger. When we do these things, when we visit the lonely or help those in need, when a family is reconciled, Christmas is real and present, and that is truly what makes it the most wonderful time of the year. I pray that peace and joy will reign in every home and every heart during this holy season. Merry Christmas, and may God’s blessing be upon us all,” Reagan said in closing.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
A new survey from Marist College has revealed Christmastime preferences.
It found that 75% of U.S. adults would rather stay home than travel during the busy holiday season. That includes 78% of Republicans, 79% of independents and 70% of Democrats.
The survey also found that 50% would prefer to receive one big gift during the holiday season.; 51% of Republicans, 52% of independents and 50% of Democrats agree.
Opinions vary, however.
The poll found that 48% of us would prefer to receive 10 small holiday gifts rather than a big, bodacious present. That includes 48% of Republicans, 46% of independents and 49% of Democrats.
The Marist College Poll of 3,131 U.S. adults was conducted by telephone and online Dec. 3-5.
WASHINGTON’S ’HISTORIC COCKTAIL’
Mount Vernon — the ancestral home of George Washington on the verdant banks of the Potomac River — maintains a sizable collection of recipes from earlier eras.
“Learn to make historic cocktails enjoyed by George Washington and his contemporaries as well as explore his favorite beer and wine selections. Alcohol and drinking were common features of everyday life for ordinary Americans in the eighteenth century. General Washington was not against enjoying a drink himself, serving libations to his frequent guests, or even supplying alcohol for political purposes,” according to a simple tutorial at Mount Vernon’s website.
The website offers recipes for libations of the era — Cherry Bounce, Philadelphia Fish House Punch and Syllabub, among them.
So here’s the Fish House Punch recipe, verbatim from the source:
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar
• Water
• 2 quarts light rum; or 1 quart light and 1 quart dark rum
• 1 quart brandy
• 3/4 cup peach brandy or cordial
• 2 1/2 cups lemon juice
Directions: Mix together sugar and a little water. Add remaining ingredients. Fish House Punch should sit for at least 2 hours before serving. Serves 16.
POLL DU JOUR
• 73% resolve to drink more water in the new year; 73% resolve to “eat healthier.”
• 71% resolve to exercise more; 69% to get more sleep.
• 67% resolve to express more gratitude, 60% resolve to have a better work-life balance.
• 53% resolve to lose weight; 39% to drink less alcohol.
• 37% resolve to reduce their carbon footprint; 30% to start or continue mental therapy.
• 20% resolve to participate in an alcohol-free “Dry January.”
SOURCE: An Ipsos Consumer Tracker poll of 1,085 U.S. adults conducted online Dec. 10-11. People could pick multiple resolutions.
• Merry Christmas, happy holidays and thank you for reading Inside the Beltway.
